April 19, 2012

Every year since 1945, the European Forum Alpbach has been held in the Tyrolian mountain village of Alpbach. For almost three weeks Alpbach becomes the village of thinkers or, as Otto Molden, the founder of the Forum, called it, the “other magic mountain”. Speakers and participants from all parts of the world, from science, economics and politics, experienced experts and students, come together in Alpbach to discuss the current issues and to formulate interdisciplinary solutions. The open character of the events promotes a climate of tolerance for different opinions and contributes to the overcoming of national, ideological and disciplinary boundaries in a harmonius way. Participation is open to all those who are interested, and the events are carried out in the German or the English language.

April 12, 2012

In the new virtual world we live in today, fraud is a new fear instilled into anyone who has shopped or done other types of business online. Almost every business and governmental agency has a website, and it is often preferred that you visit that site as opposed to calling in and speaking with a live person. For this reason, many potential college students are seeking scholarships online rather than calling the institution or going in to speak with financial aid specialist. While there is nothing wrong with speeding up the process, this does open up the chance to become a victim of fraud, and the ways scam artists lure you in are creative ranging from offering a free led tv to sometimes even outright lies.

April 11, 2012

Studying abroad is always a memorable experience, especially if you choose to live in a country where you don’t speak the language. In fact, most students choose to study abroad in the first place for the opportunity to gain proficiency in a foreign language. Despite the difficulties, it’s important to really focus on improving your language skills while you have the chance to live in a country with native speakers. Here are some of the top ways to get the hang of a foreign language while studying abroad, no matter your skill level.

1. Stay with a Host Family

This is the best way to become fully immersed in the local language and culture. Many study abroad students stay in residencies with other abroad students, but it can be very tempting to revert to speaking English in a residency. Even staying with other foreign students can turn into an English fest, because most young people speak English as a second language.

April 3, 2012

A guest post by Sarah Fudin, who currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California's Master of Arts in Teaching program, which provides aspiring teachers the opportunity to earn a Masters Degree in Teaching credential online. Outside of work Sarah enjoys running, reading and Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

As an ESL teacher, you will work every day with students struggling to learn a new language, many of whom may also be struggling to adapt to the customs of a new country. As their instructor, you will have an intimate knowledge of the challenges and rewards of that learning process as it unfolds in your classroom, but students also lead full, vibrant lives outside the classroom. As they absorb the English language, they will also acclimate to the cultural life of their new home country. These are struggles and joys that teachers can certainly relate to, but not all teachers have experienced themselves.